Magnetic conveyor and can washer combination



June 22, 1965 w. J. FALLER ETAL 3,190,293

MAGNETIC CONVEYOR AND CAN WASHER COMBINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1963 INVENTORS I 641 (FR 7/! #5 FL 0 R 0 S (Al/LL l/IN m1 X M 3,190,28. MAGNETIC CONVEYOR AND CAN WASHER COMBINATION Filed Aug. 14, 1963 W. J. FALLER ETAL June 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iiilll' INVENTORS WILL/1W7 I F440 .77? IVES FL 0190;

United States Patent 3,190,298 MAGNETIC CONVEYOR AND CAN WASHER COMBINATION William J. Faller and James Flores, Erie, Pa., assignors to Eriez Manufacturing Co., Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 302,130 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-125) This invention relates to can washers and, more particularly, to can washers in combination with magnetic conveyors.

The can washer disclosed herein which utilizes a magnetic conveyor was conceived for the purpose of the automatic continuous cleaning of bright tin open or filled cans prior to or following a filler. This can washer automatically presents a clean, sterilized flow of cans to the filler without need of manual attention. This is done by magnetically suspending the cans from a magnetic overhead conveyor.

This washer is unique in that the suspended inverted empty cans are completely exposed to the upwardly directed sprays to facilitate the maximum washing, spraying and drying time for each and every can.

A feature of this washer also facilitates handling of the cans at the same rate as existing auxiliary filling equipment.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an automatic Washer which can be connected to existing can processing lines or new installations with a minimum of change. This washer will handle all sizes of filled or unfilled cans without modification of any kind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic rail and associated equipment to suspend the cans to provide effective cleaning and draining of cans during the washing, steaming, and drying thereof. This unit will also reduce or eliminate damage to cans and their flanges.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device to convey cans with a simple magnetic conveyor without need to change flow directions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved can washer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination can Washer and magnetic conveyor.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a can washer which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient in operation.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a can washer according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the can washer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the can washer shown in FIG. 1 drawn to reduced scale;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the can washer similar to FIG. 3 at a somewhat smaller scale; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the jets of water spraying into the cans.

3,190,298 Patented June 22, 1965 Now with more particular reference to the drawings, a can washer is shown having a frame 1 made up of suitable structural steel, including angles and the like, and it is supported by a suitable support. The can washer has a hood 2 which defines a generally rectangular channel through the can washer and a drain pipe 18 which may be connected to a suitable drain. The hood 2 and a drain pan 3 form a tunnel through which the cans move and in which the spray is located.

The channel has a washer conveyor made up of spaced pulleys 14 and 15 which have a belt 17 driven by a drive assembly 16. A magnetic rail 4 is provided having spaced horseshoe magnets 4 supported thereon and having parallel pole plates 19 in the form of laterally spaced steel plates which extend from one end of the washer conveyor to the other. These plates 19 provide a continuous mag netic field from one plate to the other having a north polarity at one side and a south polarity at the other side.

A stainless steel (non-magnetic) sheet 30 rests on angles 31 and the magnetic plates 19 rest on this sheet. The belt 17 slides below this sheet on the underside thereof. Thus, the magnetic field is directed from the magnets 4' through the sheet 30 through the belt 17 to the cans. The inside surfaces of the channel can be coated with a suitable epoxy resin and the belt 17 will be made of a suitable heat resistant material. The belt 17 slides below the sheet 30 in close proximity to the pole plates 19. The belt 17 may be tightened by hex head bolts 6.

The feed conveyor 20 which brings cans to the washer is made up of a runway having vertically spaced guides 21 and horizontally spaced guide rails 22 which are curved so that the cans approach the washer in a horizontal position, are rotated ninety degrees, and come into the channel in inverted position. The bottoms of the cans are attracted to the magnets 4' as shown so that the first can 23 to enter the channel rests on the rail 22 and the subsequent cans indicated at 24 are lifted by the magnetic rails 22 so that their bottoms rest against the bottom side of the belt 17.

As the conveyor belt 17 advances, the cans are held in frictional engagement with the belt 17 by magnetic force and they are carried over a spray manifold 7 which may be in the form of a pipe. Spaced jets from the manifold 7 direct streams of water into the open bottomed cans. A suitable limit switch 8 is provided which will be actuated as long as cans are in the exit end of a discharge conveyor at 27. The conveyor belt 17 will stop when the cans are not in engagement with the limit switch 8.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but it is understood that the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A can washer comprising a frame,

a wide thin sheet of non-magnetic material on said frame,

laterally spaced magnetic members supported on said frame,

a conveyor belt on the side of said sheet opposite said magnetic members,

means magnetizing said spaced magnetic members,

means moving said conveyor belt along said sheet,

an upwardly directed spray means for spraying liquid upwardly toward said conveyor,

and means to feed open containers in inverted condition to said conveyor whereby said magnetic members attract said containers to said conveyor belt and prising I t a beltsupported on spaced pulleys;

a magnetic means comprising two laterally spaced pole;

plates supported above said belt and between said" pulleys, V 1 an inside surface. of said belt in close proximity to said plates; I I 7 means to direct cans in inverted position to said belt with the bottoms thereof adjacent said belt, means to move said cans totaposition adjacent. said plates whereby said cans are lifted toward said plates I and moved along said plates by said belt, and spray manifold having. nozzles thereon for directing the spray of liquid into said cans. I 3. A combination conveyor and can washer comprising a frame, i a a hoodsupported on said frame and defining a drain-pan below said tunnel, pulleys disposed one at each end of said tunnel, 7 a belt having at least a bottom portion thereof disposed in said tunnel, a V laterally spaced magnetic members providing a maga tunnel,

I and means is disposed at the discharge netic field from one side of said belt to the other in said tunnel,

means for moving cans into said tunnel with the closed bottoms thereof disposed against said bottom portion of said belt whereby said cans are moved by said magnetic members into contact with said. belt;

a spray manifold in said drain pan for spraying water into the open tops of said cans as they are moved through saidtunnel by said belt, and means to drive said belt.

track means is provided for bringing said cans to said tunnel in a horizontal position and for orienting said cans with closed bottoms adjacent said belt and the open tops facing downwardly, 7

end of said track means'for rotating said cans tora horizontal position.

' i Refere'nces Cited 'by theEiraminer UNITED STATES PATENTS YCHARLESVA. WILLMUTH, Primary Exami er. 

2. IN COMBINATION, A CONVEYOR AND CAN WASHER COMPRISING A BELT SUPPORTED ON SPACED PULLEYS, A MAGNETIC MEANS COMPRISING TWO LATERALLY SPACED POLE PLATES SUPPORTED ABOVE SAID BELT AND BETWEEN SAID PULLEYS, AN INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID BELT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID PLATES, MEANS TO DIRECT CANS IN INVERTED POSITION TO SAID BELT WITH THE BOTTOMS THEREOF ADJACENT SAID BELT, MEANS TO MOVE SAID CANS TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID PLATES WHEREBY SAID CANS ARE LIFTED TOWARD SAID PLATES AND MOVED ALONG SAID PLATES BY SAID BELT, AND SPRAY MANIFOLD HAVING NOZZLES THEREON FOR DIRECTING THE SPRAY OF LIQUID INTO SAID CANS. 